title: Standardized dirts for testing the efficacy of workplace cleaning products: validation of their workplace relevance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to assess the cleaning efficacy of occupational skin cleansers, standardized test dirts mimicking the spectrum of skin soiling at dirty workplaces are necessary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To validate newly developed standardized test dirts (compliant with the EU Cosmetics Directive) for their occupational relevance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-blinded, monocentric questionnaire-based clinical trial, 87 apprentices of three trades (household management; house painting and varnishing; and metal processing) evaluated the cleanability of six standardized test dirts in relation to their workplace dirts. In addition, they judged the similarity of the test dirts to actual dirts encountered in their working environments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the household management participants assessed the hydrophilic model dirt ('mascara'), the lipophilic model dirt ('W/O cream') and a film-forming model dirt ('disperse paint') as best resembling the dirts found at their workplaces. Most of the painters and varnishers judged the filmogenic model dirts ('disperse paint' and 'acrylic paint') as best resembling the dirts found at their workplaces. For the metal workers, the lipophilic and paste-like model dirts were most similar to their workplace dirts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spectrum of standardized test dirts developed represents well the dirts encountered at various workplaces. The test dirts may be useful in the development and in vivo efficacy testing of occupational skin cleansers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Strasse 35, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sonsmann
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.forename: Swen-Malte
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diepgen
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schliemann
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003902:Detergents; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009821:Oils; D010150:Paint; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D012987:Soil; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D003902:Detergents; D009821:Oils; D012987:Soil
keywords: efficacy testing; occupational dermatitis; occupational skin cleanser; prevention; test dirt; workplace soiling